Certification

Thanks to several long-time donors, The Cooper Institute (CI) has launched an innovative web site, www.StandUpandEat.org, that allows the CI to “give back” while helping our constituents and the general public better understand their calorie balance.

“Since 1970, CI has amassed loads of accurate and credible content on healthy living. Through StandUpandEat.org, we now have a way to help disseminate these resources so more people can improve the quality of their lives,” said Ruth Ann Carpenter M.S., R.D., L.D., project director. “This web site shows the proof of our vision. We now hope to attract more donations and sponsors to further our reach with a national launch and added features,” she said.

The goal of StandUpandEat.org is to help people take action toward balancing the calories they eat with the calories they burn. The site includes an interactive “widget” called the Billion Calorie Burn to get people to “donate” their physical activity calories to a fun challenge. Unfortunately, most people don’t move enough. According to a recent study, only 11% of Americans know the number of calories they should eat each day. A lopsided calorie balance has led to an epidemic of obesity in the U.S. and worldwide.

Our donors and The Cooper Institute want to help with this epidemic. So, in addition to the Billion Calorie Burn, the site includes a biweekly blog written by CI staff, healthy eating (“What’s In”) and active living (“What’s Out”) content libraries, calculators, and downloadable tools all coming from a trusted source. In future development phases, pending funding, CI will add a daily blog, more widgets, e-newsletters, podcasts, and more.

“The Institute is pleased to be able to give back to our including our donors, research participants, customers, and students,” said Carpenter. “We are excited about making our healthy living information and tools available to the world.” While you are visiting the site, let us know what you think about The Burn and StandUpandEat.org.

For more information about how you can help, please contact Barbara McGowan in the Development Office, (972) 341-3280 or bmcgowan@cooperinst.org.